About Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT

8 Limbs Yoga Centers

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  Have you ever been watching a movie and there was a sad part where you cried, and then for no reason you started to cry more and more & couldn't stop?

  1 0 Well I am no psychologist, only a yoga practitioner and teacher with about 25 years of personal experience diving into the depths of emotional, psychological and spiritual awareness. My experience (and understanding of yogic teaching) has been that emotions that are not thoroughly processed at the time of an experience or trauma can be stored in the layers of our being surrounding (the koshas) that which is unchanging and untouched, the soul. When provoked, be it through a certain yoga posture that twists in just the right place, or a movie that touches a similar emotion, the well of subterranean erupts and moves out into the present moment from being well-covered (with good intention to protect us) so long before. So yes, my answer to your question is that a release of emotion can foster more release of that same emotion. Sometimes it helps to have a good cry, but often it can take us into a mire of sadness that doesn't really pull us out into new territory. What has been transformational for me is to have a good guide (like yogic philosophy, a good therapist or mentor, and/or a trained awareness through sustained meditation practice) to help me to follow the emotion to its source and understand where it is coming from. Once fully witnessed, most emotional states will release. I also think physical movement can be helpful to usher the sadness out, after thanking it for its presence, which woke you up to something you'd been unable to address at the time of its occurrence (compassion for our past is oh so helpful). And lastly, if you are open to the idea of reincarnation, you might consider that your sadness could even be leftover from an experience from another lifetime. Over time, with mindfulness, the releases become quicker and will free up your spirit for your dharma (life purpose). Namaste! Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT answered in Other Health & Fitness about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 4 more answers »

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  Resources for Eating Disorders

  1 0 I have heard good things about NutritionWorks on Blakeley, a practitioner named Kathleen Putnam. http://www.nutritionworkseattle.com/about.htm For me self awareness was the way out of this cycle, and you seem ready to work on this with the appropriate person. Yoga, for me, was the ultimate "cure" for my own eating disorder, after years of work within OA, great therapists, and a Women's Studies minor. Good luck finding the right fit for you and peace of body and mind. Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT answered in Get Fit! about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

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  0 0 OK! 1. Now you are going to stand on your feet with your feet hip width. Inhale as you lift your arms and exhale to lower your hips into a chair shape, chair pose. Stay in chair, and bend your elbows to open your chest with each exhale, straighten arms on inhale. Build up to 10 breaths in this shape/practice. 2. Fold forward and stretch your back. Stay a few breaths 3. Place your hands on your shins and inhale to lift your chest up, exhale lower back to the forward bend. 3-5x. 4. step one leg back into a lunch and lift up, arms overhead. Switch sides. 5. Finish by coming back to standing or in downward. 6. Appreciate what you've done! Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT commented about 1 year ago

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  Should I see a nutritionist?

  1 0 Myrna, You are awesome to have made this commitment to fitness and it sounds like you are doing great! You sound patient AND committed, which is golden. I will say that I am partial to yoga and have found for myself that it provides an amazing amount of strength and endurance while balancing our metabolism. I have never been someone to promote yoga as a practice for weight loss, but it is a practice that gets us in touch with our bodies in a deep way. For me, over time yoga did contribute to a lower body weight. Yes, it takes time, and you get that I am also going to give you the same advice I gave Anne - check out Ayurveda (local practioners include Kerala, Life in Balance, AYU, Dr. Virender Sodhi). There are many books about the ideas behind it, and Deepak Chopra's Perfect Health is a great one to start with. I have an ED past and am also pretty anti-diet/restriction. I have found that learning about Ayurveda is incredibly self-empowering. There are very simple practices that just our body find balance, which sometimes leads to weight loss. The body wants to be efficient, able to run fast (we were designed to escape predators in the wild!), and feel great. If we learn what our dosha (constitution, similar to "body type") is we can learn practices (eating, sleeping, exercising) that bring it into balance. My guess (since you have demonstrated patience and commitment) is that you are a kapha and for you what is important is to stay consistent (which you are doing) and work vigorously but without great strain. Re foods, I am no nutrition expert, but my experience has been that the more healthy fats I get (flax oil, avocado, walnuts), the less I crave the others. When I am living in harmony with my dosha and the season, I eat to live, and have fewer cravings. Good luck! Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT answered in Get Fit! about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 7 more answers »

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  Do you have exercise tips for those stuck at a desk?

  3 0 Great question! Sounds like you are a great candidate for a 10 minute yoga session to reduce pain and increase your energy. The old Nike slogan JUST DO IT is more important than WHAT you do, so I always recommend setting small goals, like 10 minutes. Then you are more apt to do it...and will probably practice longer because it'll just feel GOOD! But since you asked, here's what I would do in your position (and right now I AM in your position, typing away ;-) 1. on your hands and knees practice cat cow: arch your back and lift your gaze and tail when you inhale, round your back and lift your navel as you exhale. You can add to this and lift one leg behind you when you inhale, draw the knee into your chin as you exhale. 2. good old downward facing dog pose is a winner on several levels - it gets you upside down and increases blood circulation to your brain, lengthens your spine, opens the chest, and can also stretch your legs. Here's the simple how-to: from hands and knees tuck your toes under hip width apart and lift your sit bones up as far as you can. If hamstring or calves are tight, lift heels up and bend knees at first to find length in spine, then extend legs and lower heels without rounding your back. 3. lie on your belly to practice prone (on your belly) backbends, which are a counter to "keyboardasana": cobra pose is practiced with hands along chest, legs on the floor, lifting like a serpant. Other ways of prone backbending are lifting chest, arms and legs off the floor, and/or clasping hands behind back while lifting chest and legs. 4. now either rest in child's pose (hips back to heels, forehead on floor, arms at sides) or take another downward dog pose. 5. get back to work OR repeat! OK, time for me to get off the computer and go practice myself! Let me know if you want the next 10 minutes. Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT answered in Get Fit! about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 4 more answers »

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  Best workouts for weight loss?

  2 0 Wow, Anne, you are doing such great things for your health! That's terrific that you are feeling good in your energy and mood. At this time of year in Seattle, just feeling happy can be a challenge. You seem to have a great balance of activities that point towards weight loss. My sense is that your body may want to hold on to that "extra" weight because it is winter and that is just what bodies do this time of year! The more we deny them the food or rest they need, the more they hold on, which is why dieting doesn't work. I recommend looking into Ayurveda, which is the sister science of yoga related to self-care and nutrition. There are several practitioners/clinics in Seattle area: Life in Balance (Sarah Kruse), Kerala, AYU, and my Ayurvedic/Naturopathic doc Virender Sodhi (Bellevue). My personal experience with Ayurveda started when I was a very active aerobics teacher who did lots of sweaty hard activities but always held on to a few extra pounds. When I learned more about balancing my constitution (dosha in Ayurveda-speak) and exercised LESS, my body found a natural balance and I actually lost weight. With yoga and food practices that match the seasons I have been amazed at how great I feel year-round. I'll also recommend my friend Melina's website as she is a yoga teacher and nutritionist who focuses on this in her work, called Seasonal Vinyasa: www.melinameza.com. Hope that is helpful! Anne Phyfe Palmer, RYT answered in Get Fit! about 1 year ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

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